182 MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING. 



up the neck, catch the pommel with the right hand, take 

 the feet out of the stirrups ; and spring lightly down, land- 

 ing about on a line with the point of the horse's shoulder. 

 If the active horseman wishes to remount while the animal 

 is moving on, he has only to take two or three steps forward 

 without shifting the position of his hands, to enable him to 

 spring back into the saddle. The following method is, how- 

 ever, the usual way. It is best for men who are not quick 

 on their legs, and is somewhat similar to the one laid down 

 for the cavalry soldier. 



2. Place the left hand with the reins in it on the mane 

 about half way up the neck, and put the right hand on the 

 front of the right flap of the saddle (Fig. 179). Take the 

 right foot out of the stirrup, swing the leg with a straight 

 knee over the cantle, place the right hand on the pommel, 

 or on the off side of the cantle, whichever comes the easier, 

 alight on the ground, with the right foot to the left front of 

 the animal's near shoulder (Fig. 180), and remove the left 

 foot from the stirrup. The right hand is placed on the front 

 of the off flap, in preference to placing it on the pommel, 

 both for safety's sake, in the event of the horse making any 

 violent or unexpected movement, and to avoid the risk of 

 causing the saddle to shift its position. I have taken for 

 granted that the rider is at least of average height. It looks 

 very awkward for a man when dismounting, to bring his 

 right leg with a bent knee, over the saddle, and to get off 

 " all of a heap." When dismounting, as well as when mount- 

 ing, the body should be kept erect, and the different move- 

 ments should be performed with smartness and precision, 

 but without any appearance of stiffness or exaggerated 

 gesture. We may take for granted that every motion of the 

 horseman ought to be characterised by grace. 



An inexpert rider, especially if his horse is fractious, will 

 be much assisted in dismounting by the groom standing in 



